The State Highway Administration plans to plant 3,900 trees in Howard County over the next year as part of a larger planting in Central Maryland.

The $354,000 project will plant some 15,600 trees along medians and forested wetlands in Howard, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Frederick counties. The planting is part of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing initiative.

In Howard, trees will be planted on Route 103 east of Washington Boulevard, in Elkridge; at the intersection of Route 94 and Interstate-70, in Lisbon; along Route 99 at Mt. Hebron and Maple Rock Drive, in Ellicott City; on Route 29 between Routes 40 and 144, in Ellicott City; on Route 29 at the Johns Hopkins Road interchange, in North Laurel; along Old Montgomery Road near Brightfield Road and east of Route 100, in Ellicott City; and along Route 29 between routes 108 and 100, in Ellicott City.

Highway officials say additional trees reduce the number of areas its crews must mow, therefore cutting down on operating expenses and greenhouse gas emissions. Officials also tout the planting project as a way to provide work for up to 10 people, and because it will help cultivate mature trees to absorb carbon dioxide produced by cars.

The planting is expected to be completed by fall 2010.

— Jennifer Broadwater

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